In the never-ending war of fans vs. critics, Nickelback has shownh itself to be bulletproof in the face of a full-on assault by the music intelligentsia. Even Creed has to be in awe of their ability to come out richer and more popular after every lambasting. They might not be the worst band in the entire world, but… ah, who am I kidding? Nickelback is the worst band in the entire world. In regards to their unparalleled suckitude, Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times says “Nickelback is a hard rock band that could be a practical joke.” Stephen Thomas Erlewine of All Music Guide says, “Nickelback remain unchanged; they’re still unspeakably awful.” Then there’s my personal favorite by Christian Hoard and Peter Relic of Rolling Stone: “All the Right Reasons is so depressing, you’re almost glad Kurt’s not around to hear it.” The truth is, however, that no amount of Nickelback trashing is going to prevent the band’s show at the Greensboro Coliseum this Saturday from selling en masse. It’s not hard to see why they’re so loved either. Fans have gobbled up millions upon millions of their albums, despite the band effectually slapping a new name on the same turd six different times. Nickelback absconded with and made artlessly generic the same angst-ridden unpredictability that Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains turned into something wonderful. One doesn’t necessarily have to think about their music to enjoy it. It’s heavy, flavorless huck that revels in the common listener’s inability to discern the tacky from the trite. If one is so inclined, tickets run from $45 for the casually inurbane to $79 for the wantonly-bereftof-taste.

JUST MY IMAGINATION, OR ARE THE TEMPTATIONS PLAYING THE AQUARIUS?

If the fact the every cell in your body is replaced an innumerable number of times over the course of one’s lifetime begs the bio-philosophical question of whether you’re really the same person from one day to the next, then the same question must be asked about the turnover in legendary soul group the Temptations. The five-man singing group has sported more members over its 50 years than a naturist colony and only one of its original members, Otis Williams, is represented in the current lineup. Still, it’s a testament to the timelessness of songs like “My Girl,” “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” and “I Wish It Would Rain” that the band keeps chugging right along. Sure, it’s on a Monday night, but the group will be at the Aquarius Music Hall performing all of the classics. One of their all-time great voices Dennis Edwards hasn’t toured with the band in over 20 years, but he’s on the bill for this one. Tickets for the show are $25 in advance and $30 at the door and the music starts at 8 p.m.

HAPPY APRIL 20 GREEEEENSBORO

Apparently, there’s some sort of special observance going on April 20, because there are 4/20 parties planned all over town with some quality acts at several. The biggest and best of those comes as folk/Cajun/jam/grass guru Bill Nershi of the String Cheese Incident brings his newest creation, a shared project with mandolin great Drew Emmitt of Leftover Salmon, to Greene Street Club. The Emmitt-Nershi Band show is slated for 8 p.m. with an opener TBA, but fans of the funk can get down with the Odd Meters, a jazz duo from Brevard composed of eight-string guitar and drums playing at the Blind Tiger. Their album Uncommon Denominator has nodes of the Benevento Duo and Garage A Trois. Not to be left out of the festivities, the Garage gives the green-minded one of my favorite new bands, Brooklyn’s country/folk outfit Yarn, a spin. Tickets for Emmitt-Nershi are $12 in advance and $15 at the door, while the others are TBA.